April 26, 2006

POLL SHOWS HUGE SUPPORT FOR MINIMUM WAGE BOOST

Americans of both major political parties support raising the minimum wage, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, a finding consistent with numerous polls in recent years.

The report, titled “Maximum Support for Raising the Minimum,” states that “By an overwhelming margin (83% to 14%), the American public favors raising the federal minimum wage to $7.15 an hour—a hefty $2.00 an hour increase.” Raising the wage “receives widespread support from both Republicans and Democrats, wealthy and poor.”

The numbers have increased only slightly in recent years, mostly because most people have consistently believed the minimum wage should be a living wage.

This shouldn’t be a partisan issue: since 72 percent of Republicans support an increase. This is less than 91 percent for Democrats and 87 percent for Independents, but is still overwhelming.

While state campaigns to raise the minimum are gaining momentum—the report states that most Americans now live in states with wages higher than the federal minimum wage of $5.15—ultimately, Congress needs to listen to the American people and do the right thing.